The Spark of Life Approach grows a culture of love,
appreciation, enthusiasm and optimism, creating the best context for
supporting people with dementia to thrive emotionally beyond their
diagnosis.

Spark of Life is not a cure, but a gentle, practical
and celebratory approach to human relationships and communication, dedicated to
uplifting the spirit of people with dementia.

Although in the western world we can pride ourselves on
providing high standards of dementia care - the sad reality is that many people
with dementia do not thrive. Society's traditional focus has been on the
physical care of people who have dementia with little emphasis placed on their
emotional needs. Yet our emotional well-being is known to have a profound
impact on our physical being. As a global community we've tolerated emotional
neglect because we perceived there was no answer. Emotional distress and
depression have even been accepted as symptoms of dementia. It does not need
to be that way. DCA work with emotional needs using the Spark of Life
Approach to enable people with dementia to not just survive physically, but to
thrive emotionally.

The Spark of Life Approach is a
practical implementation of the essence of Person Centred Care and the Eden
Alternative and works in perfect harmony with their principles and styles of
application. Through a practical, step-by-step approach, Spark of Life fills a missing link by working at a detailed,
personal level to reach a person's deep emotional core to renew a spark that
goes beyond the moment and enables people who have dementia to thrive.

Most often thriving is not even
thought of as an option for people who have dementia; however, the
implementation of the Spark of Life Approach has shown that not only is
thriving possible, it is inevitable when the approach is used correctly.

The Spark of Life Approach is supported by the innate
and proven belief that the Spark of Life can be rekindled in people with
dementia as well as in all involved in their care. As a consequence of
implementing this approach, improvements in memory, language, communication, social
interactions and behaviour all become possible.

Dementia Care Australia (DCA) has developed this approach
under the guidance and direction of Jane Verity,
a leading authority on dementia care. She gratefully acknowledges the immense
life wisdom and special qualities shared by people with dementia who have
provided many insights towards developing this approach.

The Spark of Life Approach is
underpinned by three core principles, each supported by three practical
strategies to make it simple to implement the approach:

Shift Your Focus - emphasise the positive not the
negative

See
the ‘Angel in the Stone'

Take
Action to Build Strengths

Boost
Self-esteem

Share Your Heart - connect with your loving side and
share it in how you think, speak and act

Be
Loving and Genuinely Interested

Engage
Compassion

Forgive
Yourself and the Other Person

Shine Your Light - be and show the best you can be

Activate
Your Patience

Use
Descriptive Appreciation

Be
Playful and have Fun

When we use the Spark of Life Approach, we never miss
an opportunity to enrich another person's life by lifting their spirit, and
helping them to grow honest, authentic, long-lasting self-esteem. Based on the
genuine kindness, love, empathy and respect that come from a compassionate heart
without judgement, the essence of the approach comes from deep within and
bubbles out to others. This is ... the Spark of Life attitude!

DCA's aim is to provide all the tools and necessary support
to assist our Spark of Life Members and community to thrive and grow and
nurture the spark in everyone involved. Our mission too is to ignite this spark
across the globe and create for people with dementia and their carers a whole
new world of dementia care.

We warmly invite you toBecome
a Member of our Spark of Life Community. Spark of Life Membership is
a supported relationship between you and Dementia Care Australia.
We're with you for the long term in your endeavours to change the world of a
person with dementia. Our Approach will transform both of your
worlds and experience of dementia, lifting your spirits and enthusiasm to
create a home where the person with dementia will love to live.

Further reading - Click topic

The
Spark of Life Approach -Members article - (Read the full article of this
précis to learn: the 3 core principles underpinning the Spark of Life Approach
to dementia and the 9 practical strategies which support the approach and make
implementation simple; discover the Spark of Life 5 Emotional Needs most frequently
neglected for people who have dementia; discover 2 special gifts we can give to
both ourselves and those in our care to enable strong, new relationships and
avoid difficult behaviour.